Spray nozzle



- M. L. EDWARDS 2,574,865

SPRAY NOZZLE Nov. 13, 1951 Filed June 17, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l /J7VE/7fUJ M/ZES LOWELL ED WARDS M. L. EDWARDS SPRAY NOZZLE Nov. 13, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 17, 1947 ATVEUZLUF Muss Zowm EDWARDS A 76 B W 5,

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAY NOZZLE Miles Lowell Edwards, Longview, Wash.

Application June 17, 1947, Serial No. 755,099

9 Claims. .1

This invention relates to devices for atomizing fluids throughout a wide range of fluid flow conditions. g

Specifically the invention relates to spray nozzles especially adapted for gas turbine engines, jet engines, and the like in which a vortex chamher is provided "with a constantly open inlet for maintaining a spray at low fluid pressures and a ring of inlets under the control of a fluid pressure-sensitive metering device for augmenting fluid feed to the chamber whenever the pressure of the fluid increases beyond a predetermined minimum.

In the nozzles o'lf the present invention a relatively constant atomization efiiciency is maintained throughout a widely varying flow rate. This efficiency is made possible by the provision of a vortex chamber which receives streams of fluid around its circumference in centrifugally whirling condition. The streams are directed into the chamber by a ring of directing vanes receiving the fluid in thin sheet-like form from a pressure-sensitive metering device preferably in the formof a spring diaphragm. The vanes extend inward from the sharp outer inlet edges and coact to define somewhat converging tangential inlet paths around the circumference of the vortex chamber. The whirling fluid in the vortex chamber increases in rotation velocity as it is carried toward the center of the chamber. This condition creates a free vortex with a. theoreticalinfinite number of revolutions per minute at its center. The vortex chamber discharges axial- 1y through an outlet of smaller diameter than the diameter of the chamber at its inlet. Rotative velocity is therefore high at the discharge part of the chamber, causing the formation of :a fine conical spray with a relatively hollow core.

In accordance with specific embodiments of the invention the vortex chamber is provided as "an insert in a casing and discharges through one axial end of the casing. The other axial end of the casing has an inlet. The ring of directing vanes preferably takes the :form of a .ring of teeth around the vortex chamber receiving fluid from the casing :in thin sheet-like form only when a circumferentially clamped annular spring diaphragm is depressed by the fluid pressure ofi of its seat to open up, a thin or shallow flow path to the ring of teeth. The vortex chamber preierably :also has a tangential inlet receiving fluid at all timesirom the casing. This inlet is in advance of the ring of directing vanes and is :effective to maintain a vortex flow and a fine :conical spray at low- .iiuid flow rates when the :fluid.

not pressured sufficiently to unseat the diaphragm.

One or two vortex chambers can be used. If two such chambers are provided, the chamber receiving flow from the tangential inlet preferably discharges into the center of the second chamber receiving fluid from the directing vanes. The two chambers have concentric discharge outlets ar ranged in tandem relation. The inner vortex chamber is smaller than the outer chamber but is sufllcient to maintain the whirling of fluid at low flow rates. 7

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a spray device adapted to maintain constant atomization efficiency throughout a wide range of flow rates.

- A further object of theinvention is to provide a spray nozzle operative to produce relatively uniform mists from liquids at different pressures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spray nozzle with a pressure-sensitive metering device arranged to feed fluid in thin sheets to a vortex chamber and maintain an efficient atomization of liquids at widely variant flow rates Without requiring excessive liquid pressures.

A still'further object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle wherein fluid is passed in sheet form through a spring diaphragm at rates d-terrnined by pressures on the liquid, and is then caused to rotate in a vortex chamber before it is :dischargedin mist-like form irom the chamber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having a vortex chamber inserted in a casing and arranged to receive whirling streams of fluid from a pressure-sensitive metering device in amounts determined by the pressure of the fluid.

Another iobject of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having an apertured spring diaphragm receiving a vortex chamber in the aperture thereof and supplying metered amounts =0! fluid into said chamber through a ring of circumferentially spaced directing vanes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the fol lowing :detailed description of .the annexed sheets of drawings which, byway 10f preferred-exam'piles, illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

on the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an inlet .end :of aospray nozzle according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the discharge end of the nozzle.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken along the line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an axial cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the spray nozzle of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The nozzle II] of Figures 1 to 6 includes a hollow cylindrical open-ended casing II with an internal shoulder I Ia at one end thereof defining a reduced diameter open end IIb and with internal threads He at the other end thereof.

A gasket I2 is bottomed on the internal shoulder Ila oi the casing II.

A nozzle member I3 is mounted in the casing II and has a central frusto-conical portion I3a projecting freely through the opening III) of the casing together with a peripheral ring flange I3b bottomed on the gasket I2. A cylindrical portion I3c of the member I3 projects above the flange I3b in the central portion of the casing to terminate at a flat rim I3d. A cylindrical bore I3e extends inwardly from the rim I Set axially of the member I3 to a rounded converging bore I3f extending through the end of the frusto-conical portion I3a.

' A ring I4 preferably composed of rigid material such as metal is bottomed on the ring flange I3b of the member I3 in the casing II and is spacedv concentrically from the portion I3c of the member I3 to provide an annular localized chamber I5 in the casing surrounding the portion I30.

A spring diaphragm I6 preferably composed of a plurality of stacked spring metal disks I6a, IBD, and I60, is bottomed on the ring I4 and projects inwardly to surround the portion I3c of the member I3. The spring diaphragm thus has an aperture I6d surrounding the cylindrical portion I3c of the member I3.

' A disk member I! has a ring flange l' a bottomed on the spring diaphragm I6 and coacting with the ring I4 to clamp the outer peripheral portions of the spring metal disks therebetween. The ring flange IIa has a ring of holes I'Ib therearound communicating with the inner peripheral portion of the diaphragm I6. I

' The ring member I! has a central portion with a cylindrical bore I'Ic extending from a fiat rim IId aligned with the rim I3d to a closed top wall I 1e. The rim I'Id has a ring of teeth or directing vanes I8 thereon bottomed on the rim I3d.

This ring of vanes l8 can be formed integral with the rim I' d by a milling operation, or can be secured to the rim I'Id by welding, brazing, or the like. Alternately, of course, the vanes could be formed on or aiTlXed to the rim I311. The teeth or vanes I8 are circumferentially spaced and de-- fine flow paths I9 therebetween. These flow paths communicate at their outer ends with the aperture I6d of the diaphragm I6 and with the chamber I5. The inner ends of the paths I9 communicate with a vortex'chamber 28 provided by the bores I3e and We of the members I3 and I7. These bores are aligned to cooperate in closing a cylindrical chamber 20 having a reduced diameter axial outlet 2| defined by the wall I31. The top lie of the member I1 closes the top Q? the chamber 20.

The rim I Id of the member I I projects radially beyond the teeth or vanes I8 to provide a valve seat 22 for the top face of the spring diaphragm I6 around the entire aperture id of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is slightly deflected as shown in Figure 3 to have sealing engagement with the valve seat 22 and is adapted to be unseated upon application of further deflecting pressure thereon to open the flow paths I9 and the chamber I5 to the holes I'Ib, thereby permitting flow between the seat 22 and top wall of the diaphragm to the paths I9. The flow path past the seat 22 is shallow or thin and the fluid will be forced to assume a thin sheet-like form. The path increases in depthor thickness as increased fluid pressure further deflects the diaphragm.

The member I! has a hole 23 drilled through its side wall immediately under the top end wall He. This hole 23 extends tangentially into the chamber 20 as best shown in Figure 4 and preferably has an outwardly flared or beveled inlet mouth 23a. Fluid flowing through the inlet 23 is directed circumferentiall around the cylindrical chamber 28.

As shown in Figure 6, fluid entering the cham--' ber 28 through the flow paths I9 between the vanes I8 is also directed in a circumferential path in the same direction as fluid from the tangential inlet 23. The vanes I8 have sharp outer ends I811 so that the entrance mouths to the flow paths form a relatively open continuous circle. The back walls I8b of the vanes diverge from the front walls I so that the vanes are relatively thick at their inner ends I8d and the discharge ends of the flow paths I9 are narrower than the inlet ends thereof. The paths are non-radial to direct the fluid circumferentially into the chamber 28 as shown.

As best shown in Figure 3, a sleeve 24 ismounted in the casing on the ring portion I'Icl' of the member I I. The sleeve 24 snugly fits in the casing and has an internal shoulder 24a spaced above the member II. A flne woven strainer wire 25 spans the top end of the sleeve and is bottomed against the shoulder Me. This wire is backed with a coarse woven wire support 26. A ring 21 is pressed in the sleeve 24 to clamp thewire screens 25 and 26 against the shoulder 24a and hold the same in tight condition.

A rubber packing ring R is bottomed on the sleeve 24.

A nipple 28 is threaded into the threaded portion Me of the casing II and has a recess 28a in its end face receiving the rubber ring R. The nipple 28 has a threaded port 28b for attach ment to a pipe or the like. The nipple 28, as' shown in Figure 1, preferably has a square head portion 280 that can be readily engaged by "a' wrench to thread the nipple tightly against the ring R for coacting with the casing shoulder I la to clamp together the sleeve 24, the member II, the ring I 4, and the member I3. The slots or grooves IId of the casing can receive a spanner wrench to hold the casing against rotation.

In operation of the spray nozzle I8 fluid enters through the nipple 28 and is filtered through the screens 25 and 26 from which it can flow through the holes IIb against the diaphragm I6. The diaphragm is tightly seated against the seat 22 unless the fluid pressure is suificient to deflect it ofi of the seat. The diaphragm can have any desired resistance and is conveniently made up of a plurality of spring plates which can be" substituted to produce the desired load on the seat W e d aphragm is closed on itsseat;

' b'etteii the thin shet liie not? i li fl l flfl fi ent re fluid flow 3 5? t w w j whirl it; this chamber and 'ller vortex chamber for the single discharge op g I t; This chamber is slifiicie'r'it to When the fluid bress iire increases some create a high spee rotation or Vortexing at very riding the shoal-1 chamber is provided I I ccommodatifig high flow rates and to s'i1f-= fi ritly'whirl of vortex the streams from the flow fiitth 3 3: A in the embodiment of Figures 1 floiiv riaths 33 receive th fluid inthiii. sheet-like forrii determined by the spacing of the diaphragm from its seat 22;

I Fr iii the above descriptions it will be undert ir iven tio'n brovides spray nozzle ar which create fihe mists throughout range of new determined by pressure of 51 Being sfiraye'd; The fiow rates increase with an inerease of bressui'e on the d it is not necessary that excessive firessu s be hiaihtained for obtaining high flow rates; Th fi fiidis attiisa to fiovv in thin, sheet-like form I I be a h ed seat or wall and a movable coact- I hiagm or" oofieratirig wan under the n fiu e or fires s ui on the fluid. The thiii sheet of fluid is their directed by a ring of vanes which ii to rotate in a single direction; The

is ii'itifoduced into a cylindrical mg a reduced axial outlet and is in this oh ai'nbeiso that the fluid. will disfi fifi ii'iist-like forh'i out of the axial outd r'haihtain a spray at veiy low fluid P ui es-, vqrt-exihg chamber can be equipped a bai i e i v id' li t fl t inii e a i et haw n t 811mm scr bdiii oi'ingtioii with Figures 1 to s 153a Howev r; the am flow of fluid is past the dewith the same rfrehe hiufi fiectab erasure-sensitive metering device.

Ifi mate '7 a disk 31 is bot It Riv l f course, he understood that various I2 I and an u p stantiin'g c "tructioii m ay be varied through a 3 la radians! inward fro ifi the rim tl'iout departing from the principles tibii 3m Has a fia'tiiih 3H) bet/ii I andit therefore, not the purdirectihg varies 32 is" iiiovided; A's it patent granted hereon otherahove' nehss'i'tated by the scope of the apor can be aifikedthereto; as by, braz rwt iel ki Fle nai sfisii he th i es r be rei ahpv. a r' i a s 32* jh Ifie her ug iest 2 a t n nadowhwarq 2mm ier mfi a rounded converging bore or wall 31d Th II lindrical boref SI 'c definesavoi'tei rjl with a reduced diameter outlet 35 aligfid with the gasket 2.

eirii i ihrwei tequi a 2 In sv' it tiel ai w t i iei th B I I't i s grovided iorcreatin asp t 6 Wh aties and: 1 9 Irry 10 119V? ri Wh i t i e' fq. i ipi ih' termite: rate of the spray is 'I na tefi aIlY incr as pressures o f thej fluid furthe de t t pm i rfiateriallfii enhanced fires'sures are (it heces' in ;th p, s w... afie w 1 h' t mfieflee of fid Pi gm: The directing va s a my intiitionz I I II iv device comprising a casing, a memied said casing and defining a vortex a. ring of circumferentially spaced diaiies surrounding' said vortex chamber fluid flovv baths for introducing fluid 3 streams into said chamber, means in I I I II foiihete'ring' fluid in thin sheet form A disk member 36 is hottofilid o fi the e o er of said ring of vanes, said means phragm i6 and has a ring of holes set tfi" E biiii table under pressure of fluid in the through communicating with the top of the g; casing to increase the thickness of the: sheet of diaphragm. The central portion of disk flu fie to the oi ter Inds of thevan'es, said as has a depending frusto coni'cal port'ioi'i 38o ns iii-iet at one the thereof ane and an upstanding cylindrical portion 3%: The an out tat the other one thereof receiving fluid portions cooperate to define a "second tor e'ii fro o {'6 e3: chamber therein, and atangeiichamber 3!v with a tapered outlet '38 at the bt- 15' for said vortex them-er positioned ih torn thereof converging to a redu'ced diaifi ef' in'g h'tt'teeh said wetsuit-sensitive dedischarge opening 39 in the axial cehtral plot? lei'h'ea" s'a-id'casinginletz I tiOIi Of the Wall 31d of the member 3!. The 1305 5 9 comprising a i'l'OllDW Open of the chamber is closed by a disk 39 which an g internal shoulder atone be welded or otherwise affixed thereto. iA tafi 'ihterhal threaded portion at gential inlet '4'!) is provided in the portioh 36c a spray member bottomed of the ring 36 immediately under the 'eiosui wall I I efiifiing a vortex chamber 39; I I I I M I I a reduced "ciiahiter outlet discharging The device of Figure '7, therefore, has two houi'dered 'nfi of the casing, a ring tex chambers 34 and 31, with the ch'aihb spaced directing vanes sur having an outlet 39 concentric vvithjt an-e. arranged to 3-5 of the chamber '34 and communicating th efrom said easing into said with in aLdVa-hCE 0f the fi'haT dYSOha-hg frnti'alli' whirling paths, outiet 35, I I I I I a II II I I a ht he-o'uter eiidso fthe The concentric for thetwh 75 vahes, a exihie pressure resiohsive"anfitrlar d1"- threaded into the threaded end of said casing bottomed on said sleeve and coacting with the shoulder of the casing to clamp all of the parts in position in the casing.

3. A spray device comprising a hollow open ended casing having an internal shoulder atone end thereof and an internally threaded portion on the other end thereof, a first member in said casing bottomed on said shoulder and having an open topped cylindrical chamber. with a converging reduced diameter axial outlet at the bottom thereof, a second member in said casing defining a closed topped open bottomed cylindrical chamber coaxial with the chamber defined by said first member, a ring of circumferentially spaced vanes between said first and second members defining non-radial flow paths into the chambers provided by said members, a deflectable spring annulus surrounding said ring of vanes and coacting with said second member to definea pres-.

sure sensitive flow path to the outer ends of said vanes for directing fluid in thin sheet form intov said non-radial flow paths and thence intosaid chambers, filter means in said casing, and a nip.-

ple threaded into the threaded end of saidcas-v ing for holding all of the parts in the casing in clamped relation with the internal shoulder.

4. A spray device capable of discharging fluid in fine mist-like form throughout a wide range of flow rates which comprises means defining a vortex chamber with a reduced diameter outlet at one end thereof and a continuously open tangential inlet at the other end thereof, a ring of.-

circumferentially spaced directing vanes 7 surrounding said chamber between said tangential inlet and said outlet, said vanes having sharp outer ends to provide a substantially continuous I annular entrance mouth to said chamber, said vanes increasing in thickness inwardly from said sharp outer ends to provide converging flow paths from said entrance mouth into said chamber, and said flow paths being non-radial for introducing fluid to whirl in the chamber in the same direction as fluid introduced through said.

tangential inlet.

5. A spray device comprising a casing, an in-.

sert in said casing defining a cylindrical vortex chamber having a reduced diameter outlet discharging through one end of said casing, said chamber having an inlet in the side wall thereof remote from said outlet and arranged for directing fluid in the casing into the chamber in a nonradial stream for whirling the fluid, a ring of flow-directing vanes arranged for directing fluid in whirling streams into the chamber between said inlet and said outlet, and a pressure-sensitive fluid metering device in said casing between said inlet and said vanes to control added fluid. flow to said chamber and comprising annularly arranged opposed relatively separable surfaces.

6. A spray nozzle comprising a casing, means in said casing defining a localized vortex chamber with an axial outlet at one end of the casing, means for introducing fluid into the other end of said casing around saidlocalized vortex chamber, a pressure-sensitive diaphragm in said casing arranged for supplying fluid in thin sheet form into said localized chamber, and directing vanes receiving said fluid in thin sheet form thereagainst to introduce the fluid in whirling stream form around the circumference of said chamber.

7. A spray device comprising a casing, a member in said casing defining a first vortex chamber having a reduced-diameter outlet discharging through one end of the casing, a second member in said casing defining a second vortex chamber having an outlet concentric with and lying within the outlet of said first vortex chamber, a ring of circumferentially spaced directing vanes in said casing arranged for introducing fluid into said first chamber, a deflectable spring annulus in said casing arranged for metering fluid in thin sheet form to said directing vanes, and said second member having an opening joining said casing and said second vortex chamber in advance of said annulus for introducing a stream into said second chamber to whirl therein in the same dimotion as the streams by said directing vanes whereby the whirling stream from the second vortex chamber will discharge into the whirling streams from the first chamber for simultaneous discharge out of the casing.

- 8. In combination in a spray nozzle construction, a spray discharge assembly including means defining a vortex chamber, said means including an annular series of angularly disposed flow paths directed transversely into the vortex chamber, means defining a casing enclosing said vortex .chamber means and having an inlet for fluid under pressure, said vortex chamber means including an annular shoulder outside of said chamber and disposed adjacent the outer ends of an at the upstream side of said flow paths and facing downstream and an annular flexible control diaphragm having its inner margin bearing in fluid-checking relation against said shoulder and blocking flow of the pressure fluid from within thecasing into said vortex chamber through said flow paths, the outer margin of said diaphragm being mounted in fixed relation within the casing means and with the inner margin biased against said shoulder, said inner margin of the diaphragm being flexible away from said shoulder under predetermined fluid pressure to a fluid passage spacing with respect to said shoulder proportionate to the fluid pressure, whereby to control the pressure fluid supply through said flow paths in sheet-like form.

9. In combination in a spray nozzle construction, a spray discharge assembly including means defining a vortex chamber, said means including an annular series of angularly disposed flow paths directed transversely into the vortex chamber, means defining a casing enclosing said vortex chamber means and having an inlet for fluid under pressure, said vortex chamber means including an annular shoulder outside of said chamber and disposed adjacent the outer ends of and at the upstream side of said flow paths and facing downstream, and an annular member having its inner margin bearing in fluid-checking relation against said shoulder and blocking flow of the pressure fluid from within the easing into said vortex chamber through said flow paths, the outer margin of said member being held in position within the casing means and the inner marginbeing biased against said shoulder, said inner margin of the member being movable away from .said shoulder under predetermined fluid pres- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,027 Wettstein June 30, 1936 465,013 Bourdil Dec. 15, 1891 1,656,894 Haynes Jan. 17, 1928 Number Number Name Date Lowe Dec. 4, 1928 Leask Sept. 8, 1931 Nightingale Aug. 23, 1932 High Aug. 25, 1942 Lubbock et a1 Mar. 28, 1944 Kraps June 26, 1945 Nagel Apr. 22, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 5, 1934 Great Britain July 15, 1940 

